Study 33: 1 Samuel 23: 1-13: Trent Evans

This sermon study from 1 Samuel 23 explores David’s obedience and faith during a season of danger and self-preservation. When David learns that the Philistines are attacking Keilah, he seeks God’s direction rather than reacting from fear or self-interest. God instructs him to fight for His people, showing that obedience, even when risky, brings freedom—not imprisonment. The message calls believers to resist the pull of self-preservation, to keep room on the “plate” of life for God’s purposes, and to trust that surrender always leads to increase. Through David’s example, we learn that faith is not passive; it listens, acts, and holds fast to the “rope” of trust in God, especially when life feels uncertain.

Sermon Outline

1. Introduction: Strengthen Your Grip

Timestamp: 00:00–03:50

• “This is no time to let go of the rope.”

• Faith imagery: gripping the rope of trust attached to Jesus.

• Call to humility and spiritual attentiveness before opening the Word.

• Scripture: Philippians 2:1–8; Hebrews 10:23

2. Context: David at the Cave of Adullam

Timestamp: 04:00–06:00

• Background from 1 Samuel 22: David flees from Gath to Adullam.

• Reference to Psalm 142—David’s cry for mercy and companionship.

• Abiathar escapes Saul’s massacre of the priests at Nob and joins David.Key Point: God positions David in Judah for a divine purpose.

• Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:1–5; Ruth 4:13–22

3. God’s Providence in Positioning

Timestamp: 06:30–09:40

• News comes that the Philistines are attacking Keilah (Joshua 15:44).

• David is in the right place because of prophetic direction from Gad.

• Lesson: Obedience positions us for divine assignments.

• Reflection: What looks coincidental is often providential.

4. The Test of Responsibility and Response

Timestamp: 09:40–11:20

• David could have said, “That’s Saul’s job,” but instead he inquires of the Lord.

• Principle: Kingdom leaders engage, even when not obligated.

• Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:1–2

• Key Thought: A heart after God doesn’t wait for permission to do good.

5. Faith vs. Self-Preservation

Timestamp: 12:00–15:20

• David is on the run but still makes room for God’s purposes.

• Warning: The enemy fills our plate with self-preservation to paralyze obedience.

• True rest is spiritual, found in God’s presence and community.

• Scripture: Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 4:9–11

6. Seeking God’s Reassurance

Timestamp: 17:00–19:30

• David inquires of God twice—confirmation before risking others’ lives.

• “The only prayer that’s never answered is the one never prayed.”

• Abiathar brings the ephod—symbol of intercession and divine guidance.

• Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:4–6; Proverbs 3:5–6

7. Saul’s Misinterpretation and Self-Deception

Timestamp: 20:30–22:50

• Saul assumes God is serving his purposes (“God has delivered him into my hands”).

• Contrast: David submits; Saul assumes.

• Obedience to God never imprisons—it liberates.

• Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:7–8; John 8:31–36

8. Illustration: Obedience That Frees the Soul

Timestamp: 23:00–29:00

• Personal story: making things right with Pastor Ollie Franklin.

• Lesson: fear and shame imprison; obedience releases.

• “Heavy steps toward obedience become light steps home.”

• Scripture: James 5:16; Psalm 32:1–5

9. The Danger of Mislabeling the Enemy

Timestamp: 30:00–33:00

• Saul calls up troops against David—the one who saved Keilah.

• Pride and jealousy distort discernment.

• The real enemy is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12).

• Application: Guard unity; forgive; resist spiritual confusion.

10. The Increase in Obedience & Final Call

Timestamp: 43:00–50:00

• David leaves Keilah with 600 men (up from 400)—obedience multiplies.

• “The increase is in the obedience.”

• Metaphor of the lunch tray: keep one space open for God to fill.

• Communion call: make room on your plate for God.

• Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:13; Luke 22:19–20; Philippians 3:12–14

Scripture References

1. Psalm 142:1–7

Timestamp: 04:20–05:00

Context: David’s prayer in the cave of Adullam after fleeing Saul.

Usage: Shows David’s emotional and spiritual state—feeling abandoned but still crying out for mercy. The preacher connects this to the theme of humility and desperation before God in seasons of isolation.

2. Ruth 1:4; 4:13–22

Timestamp: 05:15–05:30

Context: Mentioned when explaining David’s lineage through his Moabite grandmother, Ruth.

Usage: Demonstrates God’s redemptive thread across generations and explains why David took his parents to Moab for safety.

3. 1 Samuel 22:1–5

Timestamp: 05:50–06:30

Context: Review of events leading into 1 Samuel 23—David’s time in Adullam and Gad’s prophetic word to move to Judah.

Usage: Establishes continuity and obedience; God was positioning David in Judah for a coming assignment (the battle for Keilah).

4. Joshua 15:44

Timestamp: 07:33–07:50

Context: Keilah described as a fortified city allotted to Judah.

Usage: Provides geographical and historical grounding for the story, showing David’s tribal and spiritual connection to the land.

5. 1 Samuel 23:1–2

Timestamp: 09:40–11:00

Context: David learns the Philistines are attacking Keilah and asks God what to do.

Usage: The heart of the sermon’s text—David’s instinct to seek God rather than act presumptuously. Used to illustrate faith in action and spiritual leadership.

6. Matthew 6:33 (Implied)

Timestamp: 12:20–13:40

Context: “Make room for God’s purposes even when you’re in self-preservation.”

Usage: Though not quoted, the message reflects Jesus’ call to “seek first the kingdom.” Obedience reorders priorities even when life feels threatened.

7. Hebrews 10:25 (Implied)

Timestamp: 15:00–16:20

Context: On the need to stay connected to the body of Christ for spiritual rest and strength.

Usage: Cited indirectly to challenge believers who disengage from worship and community when life gets heavy.

8. 1 Samuel 23:4–6

Timestamp: 17:20–19:30

Context: David seeks confirmation from God a second time and receives assurance to attack.

Usage: Reinforces the importance of prayer, spiritual confirmation, and patient discernment before action. Abiathar’s ephod symbolizes access to God’s guidance.

9. Proverbs 3:5–6

Timestamp: 33:00–33:20

Context: David seeks the Lord through the ephod when Saul plots to attack.

Usage: Directly quoted—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”—to contrast David’s dependence on God with Saul’s self-reliance.

10. John 8:31–36 (Implied)

Timestamp: 22:00–23:00

Context: “Obedience to God will never leave you imprisoned—it will leave you liberated.”

Usage: Reflects Jesus’ teaching that truth and obedience bring freedom. Used to contrast Saul’s false sense of control with David’s spiritual liberty.

11. James 5:16

Timestamp: 25:00–29:00

Context: Personal story of confession to Pastor Ollie Franklin.

Usage: Demonstrates the freeing power of honesty, repentance, and restored relationship—paralleling David’s obedience under conviction.

12. Ephesians 6:12

Timestamp: 32:18–32:55

Context: Warning against labeling brothers and sisters as enemies.

Usage: Quoted directly to remind believers that the real battle is spiritual, not against flesh and blood, and that disunity opposes God’s work.

13. 1 Samuel 23:7–13

Timestamp: 20:30–44:00

Context: The central narrative—Saul’s pursuit of David, the betrayal at Keilah, and David’s escape.

Usage: Serves as the unfolding case study of obedience, betrayal, and divine protection. The preacher draws multiple lessons from each verse—trust, discernment, mercy, and increase.

14. Luke 22:19–20

Timestamp: 49:30–50:40

Context: Communion invitation at the end of the message.

Usage: Connects David’s obedience to Christ’s ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice, leading into the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance of surrender and grace.

15. Philippians 3:12–14 (Implied)

Timestamp: 48:30–49:45

Context: “Hold on to the rope; keep climbing even when tired.”

Usage: Mirrors Paul’s imagery of pressing forward in faith—holding tightly to the call of Christ until the end.

Word Study

1. Obedience – שָׁמַע (shāmaʿ)

Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)

Strong’s Number: H8085

Pronunciation: shaw-mah

Definition:

• Simple: To hear, listen, and respond with action.

• Extended: In Hebrew thought, shāmaʿ goes beyond auditory hearing—it signifies attentive listening that leads to faithful obedience. To “hear” God is to heed Him.

Synonyms: shamar (to keep, guard); ʿasah (to do, act).

Antonym: maʾan (to refuse, rebel).

Other Key Passages:

• Deuteronomy 6:4–5 — “Hear (shāmaʿ), O Israel…” The call to listen and love God wholeheartedly.

• 1 Samuel 15:22 — “To obey (shāmaʿ) is better than sacrifice.”

• Psalm 81:8–13 — God laments that His people “would not listen” to Him.

Reflection:David’s obedience in 1 Samuel 23—inquiring of God before acting—reveals true shāmaʿ: listening that leads to movement. The sermon emphasized that obedience never imprisons the believer; it frees the soul.

2. Inquiry / Seek – דָּרַשׁ (dārash)

Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)

Strong’s Number: H1875

Pronunciation: daw-rash

Definition:

• Simple: To seek or inquire diligently.

• Extended: To pursue with care, investigate, or consult—often used for seeking God’s will or instruction through prayer, prophecy, or worship.

Synonyms: baqash (to search, request); shaʾal (to ask).Antonym: ʿazab (to forsake, neglect).

Other Key Passages:

• Deuteronomy 4:29 — “You will seek (dārash) the Lord your God and find Him…”

• Psalm 27:4 — “One thing I ask… to seek (dārash) Him in His temple.”

• 2 Chronicles 20:4 — Judah gathers to “seek help from the Lord.”

Reflection:David’s repeated inquiry of the Lord (1 Sam. 23:2, 4) embodies dārash—a heart that doesn’t assume but searches for divine direction. The sermon taught that prayer isn’t optional for those walking by faith; it’s the pathway to clarity and courage.

3. Faith / Trust – בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ)

Language: Hebrew (Old Testament)

Strong’s Number: H982

Pronunciation: baw-takh

Definition:

• Simple: To trust, be confident, or feel secure.

• Extended: To rest one’s confidence fully upon another—especially upon God as refuge, provider, and defender.

Synonyms: aman (to believe, be firm); chasah (to take refuge).Antonym: pachad (to fear).

Other Key Passages:

• Proverbs 3:5–6 — “Trust (bāṭaḥ) in the Lord with all your heart…”

• Psalm 56:3–4 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust (bāṭaḥ) in You.”

• Isaiah 26:3–4 — “You keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You because they trust (bāṭaḥ) in You.”

Reflection:The sermon’s imagery of “holding the rope” mirrors bāṭaḥ: clinging to God in faith when circumstances are uncertain. Trust transforms fear into faithfulness. David’s courage, even under pursuit, arose from this deep-rooted confidence in God’s sovereignty.

Questions for Deeper Study

1. When David was surrounded by uncertainty, his first instinct was to inquire of the Lord (1 Samuel 23:2).What would it look like for you to pause and seek God’s direction before making a major decision?

   
   

   Read alongside: Proverbs 3:5–6; Psalm 27:4.

2. The sermon reminded us that obedience never imprisons—it liberates.Can you think of a time when obedience to God felt risky but ultimately led to freedom or peace?

   
   

   Read alongside: 1 Samuel 15:22; John 8:31–32.

3. David trusted God even while being hunted and betrayed (1 Samuel 23:13).What does “holding the rope” of faith look like in your current season? How might trust reshape your response to fear or weariness?

   
   

   Read alongside: Psalm 56:3–4; Philippians 3:12–14.